Earlier today I was killing time by attempting to shop for rare and obscure camera lenses which I suspected (correctly) would not be in stock at a particular Oxford-street electronics vendor. As I waited for the shop manager to type boring stock-codes into his inventory system a large man adjacent to me asked another shop-worker for directions to Great Portland Street.
English was obviously not the shop-worker’s first language and he was having difficulty giving directions to the customer. His advice consisted of lots of hand-waving and wild gesticulation. I felt compelled to assist, as my knowledge of the streets of London is second to none. I explained that from our position on Oxford street, any of the perpendicular roads nearby would take him to Great Portland Street, and that the station was pretty much unmissable. I fixed him with a beatific smile as one does when one offers helpful directions.
It was that moment that I noticed something familiar about the man: Long shoulder-length slightly greying brown hair. A pointed and arched nose, and two distinctively truncated digits from his right-hand. I may not have been able to acquire the fabled Nikkor 18-200 VR lens, however I had achieved something far greater. My boyhood ambition had been fulfilled: I had actually met Terry Nutkins.
He noticed my stare hat his fingers. He looked at me and said “Yes, I am who you think I am”. I replied with only slight exaggeration “You were a childhood hero”. Thanks he said, and then addressing the whole assembled staff of the shop and myself he said “I’m working on a new project. I’m doing some research at Great Portland St”, and then briskly walked out leaving the enormous Canon video camera he was examining on the shop’s cluttered counter.
My mind was a whirr - this man who was once friend to all marine mammals (except otters) was obviously embarking on a new videographic project. Somehow the location of Great Portland Street is critical to this project, and it was none other than myself who ensured that he got there. I can rest easy tonight knowing that this great man is one step closer to realizing his dreams.
But why was this star of “The Really Wild Show” and “Animal Magic” ignorant of the location of Great Portland Street? As a long-serving BBC type he would have attended countless meetings at Broadcasting house which was but five minutes walk away. Anybody who goes to broadcasting house knows that Great Portland Street is pretty much directly North. He certainly seemed not to have lost his marbles - I can only think that he was so deep in thought about his important animal projects to contemplate mundane London geography.
But Terry mainly did TV - mainly for the BBC Science & Nature department (based in Bristol) or occasionally TV Centre (White City). None of which would have taken him near BH.
This is a relief - it would be a tragedy if Terry Nutkins was wandering around North London in a terminally befuddled state, with only his friends the Urban Foxes to guide him.
But would Terry have spent ALL of his career working from Bristol? Remember he co-starred with the late, great Johnny Morris. I cannot imagine Mr Morris living a provincial life-style, I allways imagined the man who gave a voice to beasties to be a cosmopolitan type.
You’re right, Sal. According to veteran rostrum camera operator Ken Morse, Johnny Morris was not allowed within the city limits of Bristol due to the feud that sprang up between himself and the burghers of that metropolis when he gave camels West Country accents.